MEFT will never award concessions that disadvantage tour operators: Shifeta

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) will never award concessions that have detrimental effects on Namibian tour operators. The ministry's goal is to improve service delivery and make Namibia one of the best and most inexpensive tourist destinations. This was stated by Minister Pohamba Shifeta in answer to queries posed on Thursday by Member of Parliament Utaara Mootu on the issue of tourism concessions in protected regions. According to Mootu, concessions are intended to assist the grassroots economy, but they can also benefit individuals through tender bids. She asked the minister which is more impactful: concessions offered as a tender or to communities. For this reason, the minister stated that MEFT awards concessions directly to communities living within or next to protected areas, bypassing the competition procedure. 'In all our protected areas, namely Etosha, Namib Naukluft, Skeleton Coast, Dorob and Bwabwata national parks, there are concessions awarded directly to communities,' he said. Shifeta stated that all concessions must go through a tender process in order to become operational, which involves either finding an investor for a specific neighbourhood, or appointing an operator. The impact is equal since all concessions produce jobs in local communities, and there are additional social duties that come with being a concession holder, he explained. 'In all recent concessions given, communities receive 75 per cent of the concession fees while the government receives 25 per cent, therefore the benefits are equal whether the concession is awarded to a local community or a commercial enterprise,' the minister said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency